Rafa Benitez will try to get Mike Ashley involved in the January transfer window, and Rafa will want up to four players brought in this January.
Some will be on loan from the continent, but the manager may want to see the owner break Newcastle’s record transfer in January to convince him to stay on as manager at Newcastle.
It’s still undecided whether Rafa will stay at Newcastle.
But there could be some players leaving Newcastle in January.
If Florian Lejeune is fit by then, Rafa could well allow Ciaran Clark to leave the club.
If Lejeune is fit – Ciaran Clark could be allowed to leave permanently or on loan in January
Newcastle would want at least the £5M they paid Aston Villa for him in the summer of 2016 – and Ciaran has become a better player under Rafa at Newcastle.
The 32 times capped Republic of Ireland International was left out of the Ireland squad for this International break, and he now seems the odd one out at Newcastle.
The outstanding form of our two new center-backs Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar have put Clark down to 5th place in the pecking order.
If Ciaran doesn’t go in January he could be transferred in the summer; his current contract at Newcastle runs through June 2021.
He got the job done for Newcastle when he partnered captain Jamaal Lascelles in the promotion season in the Championship – Ciaran helped us get promoted, and he did great!
21-year-old goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is almost sure to go out on loan to get some first team games, and if Freddie doesn’t leave, then Rob Elliot could be allowed to move on loan.
But only one of the goalkeepers will leave in January with the other goalkeeper backing up Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow.
And there’s a decent possibility that Achraf Lazaar could go out on loan for the second half of the season.
The Moroccan has no future under Rafa at Newcastle, and he may even be able to get a loan deal (or permanent deal) arranged with Genoa.
It looked like he was on his way to Genoa in August, but the club changed their mind at the last moment.
Reports last month suggested Genoa could be interested in taking the player in January.
Rafa may also allow one or two of the top young players at Newcastle – like Sean Longstaff or Elias Sorensen – get some first-team football out on loan for the second half of the season.
And we’re not sure what the status of Isaac Hayden is – although he still seems to want to leave Newcastle, but Rafa will want him to stay at least through the summer.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
136 comments so far
Veltman
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:44 AM
Comment #121Jail – I’m not Tsunki fan but he does make a good detective work sometimes.If I was his fan,I would have backed him long time ago and right up to death.
Tsunki
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:48 AM
Comment #122So sorry to upset your program Jesper! If I’d said “Joined to” Denmark you could be picky. But youre all together you Scandiwegian buddies aren’t you? You’re a lot nearer Finland than Nepal. 😉
Does….not…..compute….
😀
Jib
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:51 AM
Comment #123Feyenoord vs Newcastle
17th September 1968
(Arnhem day appropriately)
A 33 year old Jim Iley came
on late in the game for
Frank Clark (we lost 2 – 0)
magscar
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:56 AM
Comment #124Some interesting snippets in catching up – The Byrd’s, Gene Clarke. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band John Martyn – these international breaks aren’t all a waste then 😉
sing in the corner
Nov 19, 2018 at 7:56 AM
Comment #125You have to say well done, grudgingly, to the powers that be regarding the Nations league. They’ve spun a bunch of friendly games into some sort of competition, made the countries compete, all of which the England set up has got a fair bit out of..
Club fans, not so much, but they’re the last ones to be considered.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:13 AM
Comment #126sitc,
I think it benefits the minnows most of all, Luxembourg etc get to play each other instead of getting continuous thrashing. Still not sure how qualification proper works for the Euros, There’s less time now so surely there’s less games.
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:18 AM
Comment #127Just catching up with the blog – I didn’t know about Jim Iley – very sad news. I think his was one of the first Newcastle songs I learnt:-
“I’d walk a million miles, for one of your smiles, Jim Iley”
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:25 AM
Comment #128This is supposed to explain the Nations League
https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/newsid=2563561.html
However I’m still not sure what it means if you win it with regard to the Euros qualification?
Jib
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:26 AM
Comment #129GK Dubravka Darlow
RB Manquillo Yedlin
LB Dummett
CB Lascelles Lejeune Fernandez Schar
DM Diamé Hayden
AM Ki Shelvey
LW Kenedy Atsu
RW Ritchie Murphy
FWD Joselu Perez Rondon Muto
Utility backs Clark Sterry
Under Age Players Woodman Roberts Longstaff
Rafa is able to buy 2 players without selling anyone and any amount of under-age
players
He can only sign loan players from lower leagues or abroad
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #130martoon,
There are four spots available via the play offs, so I’m assuming that our “finals” will be classed as a play off, If we win it we go through, the same for the other three four team play offs, again I’m assuming there’s going to be a mini tournament in the summer with all 16 teams playing their matches. Again, I’m not sure when the qualifying proper starts.
Did Scotland win their group?
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #131I’ve just read it again and I think I understand it 😀 The Euro qualifiers remain the same with the top 2 teams in each group qualifying however instead of the third placed team entering knock out stages it is the group winners of each of the Nation Leagues that enter the playoffs (except if they have already qualified then their place is taken by a another team using rankings that I don’t understand so far).
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2018 at 8:58 AM
Comment #132Scotland vs Israel for the group decider and place in the play offs. Then they might have to beat some other second rate nation twice to book a place in the Euros.
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Comment #133So I think winning the Nations League just gives you a cup and the kudos but does not actually give you a direct entry to the Euros (just the playoffs) – which personally I think it should have done for extra incentive.
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Comment #134I think the Nations League has achieved it’s purpose of more meaningful games BUT in my opinion at the expense of too many international breaks – this is, what, the third one since the season started?
martoon
Nov 19, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment #135I’ll stop talking to myself now 😉
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 19, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Comment #136Sad news about Jim Iley remember when kid getting Iley and Keith Kettlebrough muddled up and one of my mates thought Kettlebrough was obey Charlton with the comb over.